5 Reasons: Why Capitals were eliminated

There's a narrative that surrounds the Washington Capitals: They can't fight through the pressure of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and waste the chances they have to advance. However true that may have been in the past, their early exit this season shouldn't be attributed to that.

In the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals had the misfortune of running into the hottest team in the NHL. Still, it was a tight series. All but one game was decided by more than one goal, and when the Capitals played their best, it still wasn't good enough to beat the Penguins.

Capitals watch season disappear in blink of an eye

PITTSBURGH --Braden Holtby lay sprawled facedown on the ice, motionless. He, like the rest of the Washington Capitals, couldn't believe what happened. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Bonino had just scored in overtime, eliminating the Capitals from the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 4-3 win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round.

The Penguins move on to play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the conference final.

Bonino's OT series-clincher

WSH@PIT, Gm6: Bonino buries rebound to clinch series

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Penguins center Nick Bonino went from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs in less than an hour on Tuesday.

The low came midway through the third period in Game 6 of Pittsburgh's Eastern Conference Second Round series against the Washington Capitals, when he shot the puck into the crowd and was assessed a delay of game penalty that led to defenseman John Carlson's game-tying goal.

Penguins' resiliency shines in Game 6 win

Pittsburgh shakes past demons, gets shot at reaching Cup Final

PITTSBURGH -- It was quiet in the Pittsburgh Penguins dressing room during the 15-minute break between the third period and overtime. It wasn't an eerie, what just happened, how did we get here kind of quiet; more of the focused kind of quiet. But still, quiet.

Sid-Ovi sequel doesn't equal original

PITTSBURGH -- Because the sequel is rarely as good as the original, it should come as no surprise that Sid and Ovi Part 2 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs didn't play to the same rave reviews as the first installment in 2009.

"Sorry to disappoint," Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said half-heartedly while smiling following a 4-3 series-clinching overtime win against the Washington Capitals in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round on Tuesday.

Instant analysis: Capitals at Penguins, Game 6

Pittsburgh overcomes Washington's third-period rally, wins in OT to advance to East Final

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 in overtime in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Consol Energy Center on Tuesday. The Penguins won the best-of-7 series 4-2 to advance to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the conference final.

Nick Bonino scored off a rebound 6:32 into overtime to give the Penguins the series-clinching victory after they blew a three-goal lead.

Stats: Ovechkin vs Crosby, Game 6

Washington captain gets two assists, but Penguins win in OT to take series

WASHINGTON -- The Pittsburgh Penguins advanced to the Eastern Conference Final with a 4-3 overtime win against the Washington Capitals in Game 6 of the second round on Tuesday.

The Penguins will play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the conference final.

Before Pittsburgh moves on, here is one last look inside the in-game and in-series matchup between Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin and Penguins center Sidney Crosby, whose quiet series did not stop his team from winning in six games, including three that went to overtime:

Penguins eliminate Capitals with Game 6 OT win

Pittsburgh advances to play Tampa Bay in Eastern Conference Final

by
Wes Crosby
/ NHL.com Correspondent

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins surrendered a three-goal lead to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, helped in part by three consecutive delay of game penalties, including one on center Nick Bonino.

But it was Bonino's goal 6:32 into overtime that gave the Penguins a 4-3 win and eliminated the Capitals in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Consol Energy Center.

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